Sally Trappes sat in the same seat her nephew had sat a month earlier. She nibbled on her bottom lip.

Glen drew in his chair, hit record and the evidence disc clicked into play. "How are you, Sally?"

She shuffled on her chair and twisted her mouth in thought. "Not as good as the last time we met."

Glen nodded. "Sean's read you your rights?"

"Yep, lotta good they're gonna do me."

"Sally I've got the statement you made to the DS. I want to go over it with you if that's okay." He pushed the paperwork to the middle of the table. "The Marijuana isn't why I want a chat. That's Detective Winters' area, the Drug Squad. I'm missing persons," he said so she understood the difference. "A name I'm very interested in came up in your statement. Will you talk to me? Call your solicitor and have him present if you'd feel better."

"Is it about the car I reported, because I don't know anything about that fellow? Never met him."

"I'm interested in Cory Shevlin. You spoke to the DS about him."

"Yeah, that's right." Sally nodded. "Horrible man."

"Will you tell me the story?" Glen asked.

"Why? It's all in there." Sally tapped the paperwork lying on the table. "So, there's no point."

Glen leaned back on his seat and rested his palms on his thighs. "I'm going to be honest with you, Sally, so I need you to tell me about your experience with Cory Shevlin. Our information indicates he's not a very nice character. I suspect he's got something to do with my missing person, Beau Hawkins." Glen scratched his head. "I need your help here, Sally. I know it's in your statement but if we talk maybe something will come to you that might be important to my case. I will put in a good word to the DS for you if you're cooperative."

"It won't help me." Sally sighed, and then said, "Ok." She pulled her chair in, clasped her hands on the table and hung her head. A moment passed. She sighed again and looked over at Glen. "I dealt with Shevlin a couple of times. Like I said in my statement, he had me over a barrel."

"How about you start from the beginning?" Glen poured two glasses of water and offered her one.

Sally took a mouthful. "You know my nephew Ricky's got a drug problem. He was dealing for Shevlin but he didn't do the right thing. He sold off what he had and was supposed to give Shevlin the money. Ricky spent it. The stupid idiot went on a spending spree."

She took another sip of water. "According to Ricky, Hawkins beat the living daylights out of him and then dragged him to see Shevlin. Ricky says they were going to kill him. In the middle of it somehow Ricky blabs that I live out on Delaney Road and own a secluded property." Sally shook her head as a pained expression crossed her face. "Next minute I get a visit from Ricky with this Shevlin in toe."

Sally gripped her glass. She fought to hold back tears. "He held a gun to Ricky's head; said he'd kill Ricky if I didn't let him plant the marijuana." Sally gasped. "I had no choice. He said he'd kill me too if I didn't let him."

She wiped her hand under her nose. "He belted Ricky in front of me to prove he didn't care about hurting people. A week later he turns up with machinery and a few men. I stayed away from it. Thought it couldn't last forever so I shut my mouth and got on with my life like it wasn't happening around me."

Glen patted the back of her hand. "So, what about Beau Hawkins?" He slid a picture in front of her. "Was this man with Cory Shevlin when all this happened?"

"Like I said I've never met him. Never seen him except in that picture." She wiped her face once more. "I first heard of him when I reported the car. I didn't know at the time Ricky had dealings with him."

Sally looked straight at Glen. "I reported the car hoping there'd be no reason for you lot to come and do a search. I thought if I didn't report it someone else would, and then the police would be all over the place." She eased out her breath. "Didn't work though, did it?"

"When was the last time you saw Cory Shevlin?" Glen couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Being dragged into something illegal was a hell of an experience for someone Sally's age.

She screwed up her face. "I haven't talked to him face to face for months. Another man has taken over. I heard the name Sergio, or something like that, mentioned. I see cars coming and going." She huffed, "Suits me. I don't want to see him or any of them."

"Okay. Thanks, Sally." Glen smiled as he stood up. "I might need to have another chat at some stage."

Who feels sorry for Sally?

Thanks again for continuing to read. I can't thank you enough for all your support. xoxo